Patriots Journal: Harmon gearing up for bigger role this season

FOXBORO — When the Patriots released Steve Gregory, it was seen as a sign that second-year safety Duron Harmon could be ready for bigger things.

Mark Daniels Journal Sports Writer MarkDanielsPJ

FOXBORO — When the Patriots released Steve Gregory, it was seen as a sign that second-year safety Duron Harmon could be ready for bigger things.

Last year, he had a decent rookie season, playing in 15 games and collecting two interceptions. The Patriots didn’t add any safeties in the draft and brought in only Patrick Chung. That has put Harmon in prime position to silence those who criticized Bill Belichick for drafting Harmon in the third round.

Even though he might be the early starter on paper, Harmon’s approaching this offseason like he’s still trying to earn a spot on the team.

“There’s no starters right now in OTAs,” Harmon said. “My mentality is to try to get better each and every day and to put myself in the position to make plays when I’m out there on the field.”

It’s often said that the biggest jump a player makes in the NFL is from year one to two. Harmon admitted he’s more comfortable entering this season and that this is an important offseason for him. One of his goals was to improvement on his man-to-man coverage. He said he spent ample time in the film room trying to critique other safeties.

“I was around here, lifting hard and just working on different things,” Harmon said. “Working on man-to-man techniques, watching film, watching different players around the league that have a lot of success and just trying to take and critique their game and take it and put it in mine.”

Though there was speculation about Logan Ryan moving to the safety position, he has yet to do so this offseason and right now, Harmon is expected to start alongside Devin McCourty. Don’t expect him to approach each practice like that’s the case.

“I want to approach each season like I want to be the starter, like I want to be the best person out there, like I want to be the best safety,” Harmon said. “I want to continue trying to lock in and get better, and be that man when I’m out there.”

Bad-weather day

Thursday was cold and very wet, but Belichick still had the Patriots practicing outside instead in the Dana-Farber Field House during the team’s sixth organized team activity session. Players weren’t complaining, but applauding the decision afterward.

“You know, coach says, you can’t care about the conditions — rain, sleet, however much snow we’re playing in them,” Stevan Ridley said. “And we experienced a little bit of that last year with the weather we had towards the back end in the season…. Whatever it is, no excuses we’ve just got to play good football. That’s what coach stresses to us in and out of the week.”

Added Ryan: “That’s New England. That’s how the weather is up here. If we’re going to play in it, we’re going to practice in it. It’s fun to play football in the rain.”

Belichick uses days like Thursday to get the Patriots ready for those sloppy Foxboro Sundays that the team might be forced to play in. It’s considered a solid learning tool, especially for the offensive players who have to hold onto the ball when everything is slick.

“You get the chance to work catching the ball when it’s wet, running, keeping your feet, running good routes in the wet turf,” Danny Amendola said. “It’s actually really beneficial. We get a lot of good work out of it, and we notice during the season, we play a little better football that way.”

Excused absence

Brandon LaFell was a notably absent from the Patriots’ OTA session last Friday, the media’s only day of availability last week. The wide receiver was back on the field on Thursday and said that his absence was an excused one.

He was at Houston’s Lamar High School, attending a ceremony for his former coach Tom Nolen.

“I had a function for my high school,” LaFell said. “My high school coach was being awarded so coach excused me from OTA to go do it.

“It was great. They rebuilt my high school so it’s kind of a fundraiser. My high school coach is going to the high school Hall of Fame. Seventh all-time wins in the state of Texas so it’s a pretty big deal for him. I had to go down to be there.”

Williams in for a look

The Patriots worked out longtime Minnesota Vikings’ defensive tackle Kevin Williams on Thursday, according to CSNNE. The 33-year-old is a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro. Williams has started all 171 games in his 11-year career.

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